an other to deathe thee father shall brynge hys sonnes into extreme ieopardye and peryll of theyr own lyues nor the sonnes wyl in any wyse spare theyr poore pareÌ„tes And yet in the meane ceason he sayeth that amoÌ„ge or in the middest of so many greate peryls they shal be naked and as touching the bodye destituted of all helpe as shepe that be in the myddeste of wolues For as wolues do in no wise pytie the shepe nor acknowledge that they be bothe innocente and meke A similitude but rather runnynge vpon them do scatter teare rente deuoure and destroye all aboute so they that are the true worshyppers of God shall fynde no maner of mercy before tyrauntes whyche wyll esteme them as shepe appoynted to the slaughter yea they runninge furiouslye and most ragiously vpon theym wyll thinke that they doo hyghe seruyce vnto God yf they do roote out froÌ„ the earth and murther cruelly as manye as he soche Thys armure I say and other lyke as wheÌ„ he saith The disciple or scoler is not aboue the mayster nor the seruaÌ„t aboue his Lord. Agayne yf they haue called the good man of the house Beelzebub howe moche more shall they hys housholde seruauntes And when he sayeth And the worlde ye shall haue persecution Item They shall speake all yll woordes agaynste you maye seme vnto some lett es rather and stoppes than anye defence or strengthenynge wher as in very dede they are nothingâ— els but a very armure For yf any man be already before fullye perswaded in hys mynde that these thinges wyl happen and chaunce vnto him lokinge for theÌ„ wyth a bolde coragious stomack all feare being banished from his mynd he is already wel armed so that they caÌ„ neyther hurt nor harme him any more Yf then these thynges can nether hurt nor harme the Pastour we must neades bâ—leue that he is surely fenced and armed and that wythe a stronge complete armure agaynste all thse thynges And yet I doo not sette forthe here the descryptyon of that armure whereof Saynte Paule maketh mention Ephesians .vi. Chapter but I bringe forthe the same whyche Christe dyd briefelye and wyth playne wordes describe and sette forth For when he hath Math. x. rehearsed an infinite number of mysfortunes and perylles whych do dayly and hourely hange ouer the Pastours To be wtoute feare is the moste stronge amâ—re of a Pastoure he sayeth by and by doo not ye feare theym And a lyttle after do not ye feare theym that kyll thee bodye but thee soule they can not kyll but rather dreade hym that can destroye both the bodye and soule in thee fyre of hell Not to feare then not to be dismayde for anye dreade feare or horrour of perylles is a mooste stronge and sure armure But paraduenture thou wylte make an Obiection and saye Obiection What newe thynge hathe Christe taughte here for alreadye afore I dyd vnderstande that I shoulde lustelye and wythe a bolde stommacke goo aboute thee offyce and charge whyche is geuen and enioyned vnto me yf I feared nothynge at all Wherfore I hadde more nede of hym that shoulde geue me that mynde whiche wyll be afrayed of nothinge For excepte soche a mynde be geuen me I can not perseuere but Christe hym selfe doeth make aunswere to all these Obiections For Solution when he hadde commaunded theym that they shoulde not be afrayed in those waues of perylles by and by he dyd shewe wher they myght gette soche a mynde as should be with out feare for he sayth Iohn xvi These thynges haue I spoken vnto you that in me ye maye haue peace for ye shall haue affliction in the world But be ye of a good chere for I haue ouercommed the worlde Doest thou see nowe howe Christ is our defendour He byddeth vs to be of a good chere that we putting awaye all feare do persyste constantelye in hys worcke though moste greuouse afflictions do ouerwhelme vs. For this is the nature of the worlde thus alwayes to exercyse and trouble the true worshyppers of God Here doeth lye a most sure hope of oure comforte and an vndoubted defence that Christ hath ouercommed the worlde For yf we be hys faythfull mynysters he shall also ouercome the worlde for vs. Wherfore he byddeth vs to be of a good cheare and to putte awaye al feare After the same maner Moyses doeth comforte the children of Israel saying Exod. xiiii The Lord shal fyghte for you and ye shal holde youre peace and be styll The Pastour then beynge endued or rather armed wythe soche a mynde shall wyth all care diligence and fidelitie admynistre the worke of hys Lord coÌ„mitting al the residue vnto hym who according to hys good and deuyne wyll shall geue a ioyefull and prosperous ende or successe But because the pastour myght here make another obiection Obiection say Truely I do heare the voyce worde of Christ which promiseth that he wil be both an helper a defendour vnto me but I see in the meane season how he is wont to defende hys mynisters euen so that at length they be fayne to suffre death I aunswere that then thou art very well defended Solution when thou doeste suffre death for Christes sake For no man suffreth death for the name of god excepte he be a chyld of God But here in this place thou shalt knowe the chiefe and mooste principall foundations of fayth charitie The priÌ„cipal fouÌ„dations of faith charitie wher wyth the whole buyldinge of a Christian man is set vp as it hath bene promysed afore Doest thou beleue that there is one onely almighty God I beleue wylt thou saye Doest thou beleue that the same is thy god thy Lord and thy father I beleue wylt thou say Tell me then doest thou putte all thyne hope and confydence in hym onelye Yes wylte thou saye Wythout doubt then thou doeste beleue thys also that the same God hath promysed nothyng vnto the but that he wyl perfourme it That do I also beleue wilt thou saye Yf thou doeste then acknowledge God to be thy father I doubte not but that thou wylt loue hym in all his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes be obedieÌ„t vnto him And yf thou be thus mynded thou wylte be glad I trow yf thou canst at any tyme do seruyce vnto so bounteous mercyfull and gentyl a father or yf thou canste do any maner of thinge that may please hym Or that fayth then wherby thou doest acknowledge him to be that most hygh and almyghty God wherby thou doest acknowledge hym to be thy God and thy father that also is wont to ensue folowe that thou conceaueste a verye great hope to come into the presence of thys God yea thou wylte make haste to come vnto hym as soone as may be For yf thou doest acknowledge hym to be thy father thou shalte loue hym Yf thou doest loue hym as thou oughteste to do thou canste neuer abyde that hys name be blasphemed
that hys honoure and glory be any thing mynyshed that his worde be not beleued that his commaundementes be thus so vngodly and wickedly contempned and troaden vnder fete A similitude As then thou wylt rather dye than to suffre thy father to be broughte into an yll name or too be diffamed so shalt thou moch more wyshe and desyre to suffre this bodely death rather than to see gods glory to be diminished Agayn yf thou doeste beleue that Gods worde is constant sure and infallible thou shalte also knowe and vnderstande that noo greater glorye can vppon the earth happen vnto man and that we can doo no greater seruyce vnto God than yf we suffer death for the glorye of hys name Therfore the lesse feare and horrour of death is in thee so moche thee greater and stronger fayth is in thyne harte on the contrarye thee more thou doeste feare and dreade thys bodelye death so moche the lesse doest thou loue Christe and truste in God For whosoeuer is endued wyth a true faythe and is fyered wyth an vnfayned and syncere loue of God he doeth already vnderstand that thys death whyche we muste suffer for the name and glorye of Christ is a very lucre and a most true waye The death that we suffer for christes sake is a true wâ—y to come to euerlastiÌ„g lyfe to come to the euerlastinge lyfe Besydes that he doth know that he is in no wise ouercomed which for the confession of Christes name suffreth death but rather that he is both ouercomed all together vndone that for thee loue of thys mortall lyfe doth suffre him self to be plucked away from God He then that vnderstandeth all these thinges perfectely shall in no wyse excuse thee peryll of death for it is the nature of the fleshe to feare death and to complayn of it but he that hath in hym a syncere and so â—nde loue of GOD noo fyre noo concupyscence or coueteousnesse of earthlye thynges shal be able to quenche that deuyne heat whych is in hym We must nedes with the myghte and power of thys loue as wyth a muste sure armure to ouercome the enemyes of god as Paule doth teache when he sayeth Roma .viii. I am sure that neyther death neyther lyfe neyther aungels nor rule nether power neyther thinges present nor thinges to come nether heyght no lowenesse nor any creature shal be able to departe vs froÌ„ the loue of god whych is in Christe Iesu our Lorde Why and wherefore loue is required in a Pastour Nowe because that charitie is afore all thinges and most chiefely requyred in a pastour as very necessary the cause must be shewed why he hath nede of it and also we must tell wher he maye get it Loue is therfore necessary in a Pastour A similitude because that all hys actions and doynges all hys endeuours and counsayls must be proued tryed and righted by the rule and lyne of charitie or loue For as no carpenter be he neuer so conuinge and industrious is so well eyed or hath so perfect a syghte that he neadeth no rule lyue So nether the streÌ„gth of the mind nor the science knowledge nor yet fayth is any thinge worthe excepte it be righted by the rule of charitye i. Cor xiii For Paul doth speake of it after thys maner Loue suffreth long is courteous Loue enuyeth not loue doeth not frowardlye swelleth not dealethe not dishonestly seketh not her own is not prouoked to anger thinketh not euil reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyseth in the truth suffereth al thinges beleueth al thinges hopeth in al thiÌ„ges endureth al thinges loue calleth neuer away It may then easely be gathered by these condicions of loue that afore al other vertues it is necessary nedeful to a pastours For as a shepeherde A similitude doth scourge beate some of his shepe some he dryueth forwardes with his handes some with fete some againe he doth wystell forwardes some he doeth allure with bread salt some the ar weake he doth beare vpoÌ„ hys shoulders some agayn he leaueth in the tables foldes tyl they be groweÌ„ of strength in al these thinges he seketh the ê“rofit of hys marster hauing a respect only that the nuÌ„ber of the shepe may encrease that thei may be safe sound So the Pastour of the soules being kyndeled with the fyre of gods loue shal do al that he can that the shepe of god may bothe encrease and abydyng stedfastly in the true fayth may alwayes through hys dyligence be in safegarde Wherefore he shal now in tyme now out of tyme cal vpon them as the nature of shepe is wonte to requyre and as God accordynge too the true meanynge of hys worde doth admyt But what neadâ— we manye wordes she that hath loue doth neuer deceaue or fayle nor is deceaued for loue is not ydle but moueth man to promote set forth alwayes the honour and glory of god bearyng sufferynge in the meane season wyth a constant and stedfaste mynde Withoute the loue of God it is an easy things to fall into pryde all those thynges that muste be suffered for it But yf a man doeth want thys charytye and loue he shall easelye fall and that headlonge into thee bottomlesse pyt of pryde for without the loue of god what is man but an arrogante pryde mere hypocrysye Wher the loue of god ought to be soughte Now and where a man shall bothe seke and fynde thee loue of god it is easye to bee knowen by the wordes of Chryste where Ioh. vi he speaketh after thys maner No manne cometh vnto me except my father doth drawe him Ergo it cometh of god the draweth vs that we do styck vnto him leaue vpon him truste in him For god him selfe is loue as Iohn .i. Ioh. ii i doth testifye He the that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in god and god dwelleth in hym Wherfore it is most necessary nedeful for a pastour to cal earnestly vpon god that he vouchsafe to kindel in him the fyre of his loue But how shal he call vpoÌ„ him in whome he beleueth nor in whoÌ„ he trusteth not Ro x. The inuocatyoÌ„ theÌ„ or prayer cometh or springeth of fayth For no maÌ„ is wonte too cal vpoÌ„ him of whoÌ„ he can not hope to receaue saluatioÌ„ helpe besydes that men do not cal vpoÌ„ him of whose good wyl loue thei do hope to haue al goodnes yf in the meane seasoÌ„ they know him to be so weake that he caÌ„ not helpe aide them Yf then we do in our myndes acknowledge god both to be mercyful louyng towardes vs also almighty that is to say that he is not wyllynge but also able to helpe our necessyties it is alredye most sure that god is in vs. For our flesh caÌ„ not haue of it self such a knowledge of god Yf therfore ther is in vs in our myndes suche a knowledge of
god such confydeÌ„ce trust in him that same is not of oure selues but it cometh of god For it is he that learneth vs both hys power hys wyl certyfyeth vs of theÌ„ by hys onelye begotten sonne Iesus Chryste And who soeuer doth receyue hym for the soÌ„ne of god he is alredy sure in his mind that god both wil caÌ„ helpe vs for he hath delyuered to death his onely begotteÌ„ sonne for vs thau the whyche nothing caÌ„ be found in this world greater or more excellent He therfore which is certified by Iesus Christe is borne of god and god dwelleth in him i. Ioh. iiii For we caÌ„ not by our owne reason and strengthe receaue Chryste wyth a sure and stedfast faith for that is wrought in vs by god only And he that hath god dwellyng in him is alredy certyfyed in hys mynd that God wyll both heare hys prayers and also performe hys desyres By these thiÌ„ges theÌ„ that haue ben rehersed hitherto it is most surely to be gathered that they â–ª whyche ar woÌ„t to complayne of the feblenes of gods loue and of theyr cold affectyon towardes hym nor caÌ„ abyde to suffre death for his names sake haue not yet receaued christ with a true and sound fayth For he that hathe embraced christ from hys verye harte can not but bee ashamed yf he feelethe hys fleshe too go aboute some let or stoppe syth that he seeth god the father to haue delyuered so liberally his onely begotteÌ„ soÌ„ne for vs. Who soeuer then Of whom we oughte to desire that loue of God desyreth the loue of god he must aske of god the father the true knowledge of Iesus christ and of his whole mistery that he may leane vpon him wyth a sure true vndoubted fayth and by by he shall feele in him self the fyre of loue He shal also afterwardes geue high thaÌ„kes vnto god the he doeth vouchsafe to speÌ„d bestow coÌ„sume thys foule vyle body to the honour and glory of hys name For although our fleshe doth dreade feare death for chryste hym selfe was not a lytle moued wythe the feare and horrour of deathe yet notwythstanding beynge by and by styrred with that moste stroÌ„g fire of loue inceÌ„singes of faith will be coÌ„strained to folow the faithful soule into the very death Such I saye is the necessitye of gods loue whyche may be drawen out of those fountaynes that we haue shewed euen nowe We thinke theÌ„ What the loue of God is able to doo that it is sufficieÌ„tly shewed declared that the loue of god onelye can performe or brynge too passe al those thinges that are necessary for a pastoure whych ar these that he vtterlye forsake his parentes hys owne self that he take vpon hym thys moste peryllous office wtout scrippe purse without any rode or styck that also he suffre hym selfe to be broughte before heade rulers before kynges and Iudges that he suffre him self to be scourged to be reuiled yl spoken of and atleÌ„gth to be most cruelly put to deathe Whyche loue againe the rewarde of a good Pastour it is impossyble to stande wythoute a true and assured fayth in god Now also the greatenes of the reward must be coÌ„sidered yf perchaunce according to the nature of maÌ„nes wytte thee hope of thee rewarde may encorage the Pastour hoth to laboure and also to bee pacyente in hys troubles and afflyctyons Oure lorde Iesus Chryst doth appointe the rewarde Marke .x. For when Peter had in the name of all the disciples asked hym sayinge Beholde wee haue forsaken all thynges and folowed thee What shall we then haue Christe dyd aunswere Verely I say vnto you Ther is no man that hath forsaken hys house or hys brethren or his systers or his father or hys mother or hys wyfe or his chyldren or his fyeldes for my sake the gospel but that he shal receaue an hundreth fold in thys world houres brethren and syners mothers chyldren and fyeldes wyth persecutions in the world to come lyfe euerlasting Here chryste doethe promyse an ample and an excedynge greate rewarde but he doethe adde a verye sowre sawce he maketh it very bytter and hatefull or heynouse vnto our flesshe when he telleth before that we shal haue that rewarde with persecutions Wherfore we must better loke and consyder wher the same hundreth fold reward that he doth speake of here was euer geuen For it is a very easye thing to fyud persecution in this worlde but we se that it is not so easye to fynd an hundreth houses so manye brethren fyeldes c. Wherfore poÌ„der more dilygeÌ„tly what hath ben done Actuum .ii. WheÌ„ Peter as the Actes do testyfie dyd vpon wytsonday preaching christe conuert thre Howe it oughte to be vnderstanded that we shal receaue an hundreth folde in this world M men too the christian fayth dyd he not get vnto hym a muche greater numbre of systers and brethren and also manye mo houses fyeldes and much greater pleÌ„tye of all thynges than euer he hadde before For he dyd loue all theym whiche dyd take thee name of chryste vpon them and dyd beleue in him no les than hys owne brethren he dyd no lesse care for theyr ryches and possessyons than yf the substaunce of all theym had bene hys owne takinge hede most diligeÌ„tly to this thing that they shuld not set theyr myndes to moch vpon earthly ryches nor abuse them rashely Truely all faythful pastours were of this mynde In dede this reward doth in no wise serue for the body nor for bodely coÌ„modities but rather it doeth increase the care solicitude of a Pastour which he hath ouer the shepe coÌ„mitted vnto him What nedeth to speake of the promises of ê‘secutioÌ„ whâ—ch we do se to be so fulfylled that by the space of many yeres the pastours ministers of the churches haue ben most cruelly put to death wherby it may easely be gathered that the Pastours do in no wyse minister and execute this function office whether a Pastour that is faâ—thful doeth take this offyce vpon him in respecte of the â—uerlasting rewarde or not for any externe outwarde reward But because the rewarde of euerlastinge lyfe is promysed also wythe these outwarde thynges we must consyder luke whether that the Pastour doth take vpon hym this office in respecte of it or not Where agayne we shal deprehend fynd that the Pastour yf so be that he be true faythfull is not principally moued wyth thee promyse of the euerlastiÌ„g reward to take thys offyce vpon him For he that seeueth for an euerlasting hier rewarde must nedes afore all thynges to know where this hyer or reward is promised vntâ— him agayne who is the author of this promyse that he whych hath promysed is true whych can neytherlye nor deceaue Yf then a man knoweth that a rewarde is promysed vnto him by and by
to feede the flocke of thee LORDE that they receaue and take thee admynystration and lawes of theyr offyce oute of none other Doctryne than out of thee pure and syncere woorde of God whyche in these latter tymes dyd declare manyfeste expound and expresse it selfe vysyblye and mooste lyuely wythe greate lyghtesomnesse and euidence in Christ Iesus thee trewe and naturall sonne of thee Father whyche thynge was also done before in thee olde Testament thoughe it was some what darckelye in thee tymes of thee Patriarches and Prophetes The diuision of the whole worke We shall therefore looke fyrste vppon Goddes woorde at Chistes mouthe and in hys Actes whyche Christe is also a trewe God Then by and by we wyll seke oute thee same in thee Prophetes and Apostles that we maye knowe thereby howe excellent and of what dignitie and worthynesse the offyce of a Pastour is whom by other names we doo cal ether a Byshop or Person a Vicar or Curate a preacher prophete or Euangelyste Secondely we shall lykewyse depicte and set forth the false prophetes in theyr owne coloures that they may the better and more easely be knowen and taken hede of We wyll also declare and set forth the punyshmente whych is prepared for theym that thee knowledge and vnderstandinge of it may ether bring them to amendement or yf they refuse it moue the Magistrates to remoue put them froÌ„ theyr benefyces and rowmes that they are in Christ is the true exaÌ„ple of a good Pastour But least we shuld be fayne to tarye longe vpon the mooste holy profunde mysteryes of that wonderfull incarnation and natiuitie of oure Lorde Iesus Christe we wyll begynne to speake of those thynges whiche he both dyd and taughte sence thee tyme that he was manyfested vnto thys worlde Amonge thee whyche we fynde thys thynge fyrste that he beynge broughte into thee Temple accordinge to thee prescripte of thee lawe was receaued into Symeons armes and not wythout hyghe gratulation and ioye which after that he hadde declared wyth many wordes that he was thee Sauiour of all the whole worlde turned hym selfe to his mother and sayd Luke ii Behold this chylde is sette to be thee fall and vprysynge agayne of many in Israell The Pastoure is the stone of of fence vpresinge agayne and for a sygne whych is spoken agaynste And more ouer the sworde shall pearce thy soule that the thoughtes of manye hartes may be opened Thys therfore shall the Pastour afore of all thynges perswade hym selfe in hys mynd that there shall be many whych shall waxe worsse by hys fode doctryne and laboure and also that manye beyng taughte and instructed by hym shall ryse from theyr synnes and fylthynesse therof And also that there shall be alwayes some vngodlye and vnfaythful personnes whyche shall wythstande hys Doctryne and godlye endeuours For thee flesshelye man doeth not receaue that spyrytuall woorde of God but rather doeth resyste it wythe all hys whole strengthe Whereby it is wonte to ensue and folowe also that thee Pastour beynge moste greuouslye hated and layde wayt for The Pastour is in not wythout peryl ieopardye by those wicked and vngodlye enemyes of Goddes worde is alwayes in peryll and ieopardye Thys thynge also the parentes kynsfolckes and frendes muste be surely perswaded nor oughte to loke for any other ende of thys mynystery and function but that theyr chyldren kynsefolckes and frendes beynge called to thys office shal be hated mocked derided and laughed to scorne of al meÌ„ yea and that before theyr owne eyen For thee nature of flesshe is not soche that it can suffice it selfe to be kept and holden in so that it doeth not breake forth at some tymes and goo about to folowe hys owne studyes and affections Here therfore a greate grief and sorowe doeth sprynge and ryse in thee myndes of the parentes and kynsfolckes here also they do feele that swerd whiche not wythoute greate griefe dolour dyd pearce thee â—oule of Mary For it is so ordeyned by nature that patentes do loue theyr chyldren so tenderly that they are wonte to haue exceadynge great compassyon on them not onely when they are afflicted without a iuste cause but also when they are punished deseruingly Dauid is an example or proue of this thinge which doth so sore lament and bewayle the destruction and death â— Regum xviii of hys moste vngodly and vnfaythfull sonne Absalon It is the of fiâ—e of a pastour nether to dâ— nor to learue vndone any thinge for the loue respecte of hys parentes Agayn it is the duety and part of a faythfull pastour to renunce forsake the loue frendship and amytye of hys parentes and to do nothing in fauour of them but go on styll persyste stedfastly in the worke of the Lord without any respecte of theÌ„ whych thing Christ with his owne example doeth teache in the same place For when Ioseph and the vyrgyn Mary hys mother had by thee space of .iii. dayes wyth a heauye harte sought hym and at length hadde found hym in the myddest of the Doctours Scribes hys mother dyd some what sharpely repreheÌ„de or rebuke him saying Sonne why hast thou so done vnto vs. Beholde thy father and I dyd wyth a heauye harte seeke the He dyd answere why dyd ye seke me Dyd ye not know that I muste be in those thinges that belonge to my father A Christian pastour then must be of that mynd and must be so affectioned least peraduenture he beynge moued wyth thee grief of his parentes doeth slowely administre Gods worcke and thee offyce that he hath receaued of hym He shall I saye regarde nothynge nor passe vppon thee wepynges of hys chyldren nor thee mournynge and bewaylynge of hys wyfe nor the affection and loue of hys systers and brethren nor yet the teares of hys frendes and kynsfolkes For he seeth that Iesus Christe thee sonne of the Vyrgyn Mary whych els was mooste obediente dyd thee same Mathe .x. Wherfore when de dyd send hys discyples too preache thee gospell he dyd saye vnto theym He that loueth hys father and his mother aboue me is not worthy of me And he that loueth hys sonne and hys daughter aboue me is not worthye of me or he is not mete for thys offyce and vocation Also a faythfull pastour shall not suffer hys patentes too haue anye auctoritye or beare anye rule in thee admynystratyon and preachynge of Goddes woorde that is too saye he shall in noo wyse admynyster or preache the Gospell and worde of God accordinge too their mynde affection and Iudgemente For it is knowen howe sharpely christ did speake vnto his mother when she being moued with a womanly affection did begynne to exhort him Iohn .ii. as he sat at the mariage that he shoulde miraculouslye helpe theim withe wyne for they wanted it Did he not saye woman what haue I to do with thee Let this I say be the stedfastnesse and
cal the preaching of the gospel grace because that the gospell is the ioyful tyding of that most sure infallible grace What the knowledg of synne doth worke in vs. which of god is grauÌ„ted geueÌ„ vnto vs. The knowledge of synne which we do nede here most of al bringeth vs to the poynte that we doo vtterly dispayre of oure owne selfes wherfore it coÌ„pelleth dryueth forceth vs to flye vnto the gratuite and free mercy of god of the whych we are most sure syth the god the father dyd geue his only begotteÌ„ soÌ„ne for vs. Wherfore christ as it is sayd before dyd vouchsaue to call the hole misery of our saluatioÌ„ a medicine And in an other place as Luk. xxiiii he doth ioyne both togeather â–ª that is to saye repeÌ„taunce forgeuenes of synnes saying So it behoueth that christ shuld suffer rise agayn froÌ„ death the thyrd daye that repentauÌ„ce remission of synnes shulde be preached among all natioÌ„s in my name Beholde how he hath here ioyned both together setteth forth vnto vs both repeÌ„taÌ„ce forgeuenes of synnes For no man can worthely delight in the preachinge of the gospel no maÌ„ can worthely receaue it with a full ioye excepte he hathe afore a full knowledge of his syckenesse disease that is to saye of hys synnes The secoÌ„d care of a pastour is to take hede â–ª that they which doo repent perish not agayne But now as soone as the wretched miserable maÌ„ doeth know his sicknes infirmitie disease seing the filthines of his synnes doth also espye depreheÌ„d and fynde a sure knowledge hope of saluation in Iesus Christ he oughte in no wyse afterwardes to lyue in synne For sith that in christ Iesus we are al dead to synne we can not afterwardes lyue in synne as the holy Apostle S. Paule doth largely copiously declare shew Roma vi This shal therfore be one of the chiefest and greatest care of a Pastour and true shepeherde to watche diligently and as nyghe as he can to take hede beware that the shepe which are already washed clensed do not voyltre theÌ„ selfes agayne in the stinking myre and puddell of synne For after that the faythfull are ones come into the knowledge of theyr saluacion and haue tasted of the gratuite free mercy of god which the heauenly father doth most liberally graunt gyue vnto vs it is most coÌ„uenient that they do leade an innocent lyfe and pure from all contagiouse fyl thynesse of synne least parchaunce they dye agayne For as Christ beyng ones rysen from death dyeth nomore death hath nomore power ouer hym so they doyng or putting of the olde man shal put on the new whych is created after the lykenes of god that is to saye oure Lorde Iesus Christ hym self what it is to putt on Christ They do sayth the scripture put on christ that walke and lyue as Christ him self dyd lyue here in the earth Therfore he doth byd and commaund his disciples after the same maner mat xxviii Go ye therfore and teache all nations and baptise them in the name of the father the sonne the holy ghost teachinge them to obserue kepe what soeuer I haue commauÌ„ded you For who soeuer doth not thincke euery day vpoÌ„ the ameÌ„demeÌ„t of his lyfe after that he feleth him self to be redemed by Christ renewed doth coÌ„tempne the name of christ abusing the same most shamefully yea rather he is thee cause that the holye name of christ is euyll spoken of and blasphemed among the infidels and vngodly We do reade therfore that the holye Apostle S. Peter doth not wythout a good cause say i. Pet. ii.l. for as moch then as Christ hath suffred for vs in the fleshe arme ye your selues lykewyse wyth the same mynde for he which suffreth in the fleshe ceasseth froÌ„ synne that hence forward he shuld lyue as moche tyme as remayneth in thee flesshe not after the lustes of men but after wyll of God For it is sufficiente for vs that we haue spent thee tyme that is past of our lyfe after the wyl of the BeÌ„tils walking in waÌ„tounes lustes in excesse of wyne in excesse of eatinge in excesse of drinking or droÌ„kenes in abhominable Idolatrie By the whyche wordes we maye easely see perceyue or vnderstand that we haue not yet fulfylled nor done fully our duety yf we shewe and declare the saluation which is pourchased by Christ for we haue most nede too beware and take hede that we do not lose agayne the saluation which is gotten and purchased vnto vs therby as most vnfaythfull Apostates Traytours most vngodly blasphemyng the holye and blessed name of thee lyuinge God It is the dutâ—e of a pastour to lyue accordiÌ„ge too hys doctryne that he teacheth Which thing that it may be coÌ„modiously brought to passe done ther is none other way more coÌ„modiouse redy thaÌ„ yf the honestye of the pastour be soche that he shal with his workes dayly example of lyuing expresse the thing that he doth teache wyth his mouth and wordes Which thing Christ doeth highlye requyre mathew v Who soeuer sayeth he shall breake the least of these coÌ„maundementes teache men to do so he shal be called lesse in the kingdom of heaueÌ„ But who soeuer shal both do teach he shal be called great in the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ For this is most sure no man is able to denye this but that it is a playne payntinge and hypocrysye to speake gaylye of god and in the meane season to lyue nothing after the rule prescript of his word Which thing S. Paul doth manifestly declare wryting to Titus Titum i. wheÌ„ he sayeth They confesse that they knowe god whoÌ„ with their dedes they do vtterly denye syth that they be abhominable disobedient vnapte to euery good worcke And again Roman ii he writeth after this maner Which teachest another and doeste not teache thy self which preachest that a man shuld not steale thou stealest whiche sayest that a man shuld not commit adultery and thou breakest wedlock why the abhorrest ydols robbest god of his glory which boastest in the lawe by the breakiÌ„ge of the law doest dishonor god for the name of god is yll reported and spoken of among the BeÌ„tyls for your sakes Therfore the pastour shall wyth all care and study beware take hede that he do not destroye with his fylthyelyuyng coÌ„uersation the thinge that he doeth buyld set vp with his doctrine and traditioÌ„s for the nature of mans wit is soche that the weaker persons are sore offended with this thing they wyl not suffre theÌ„ selfes lightely to be won drawen allured with gods worde yf they see that the lyfe and conditions of the pastoure do not agree with the doctryne whych is pure holy and sounde The pastour oughte diligentâ—ie to shuÌ„ne the hypocritycal faynynge of